This paper deals with the electric field sensor and automatic measuring system of the time-varying space electric field produced by lightning discharges. The theoretical principle and the design rule of the measuring devices are investigated, and the semisphere-type electric field sensor and the signal process system are fabricated. From the calibration experiments, the frequency bandwidth of the measuring system ranges from 200 [Hz] to 1.56 [MHz] and the sensitivity is 0.96 [m V/V/m] as the amplification gain is 10. In addition, the electric field waveforms produced by lightning discharges are observed by the proposed electric field measuring system from June to August in 1995. The data is sampled with the time interval of 200 [ns] and is automatically recorded by transient signal analyzer(Necolet Pro 30), the resolution of which is 12 bit. And it is registered at personal computer. The electric field waveforms produced by intracloud discharge tend to be bipolar, with two or three narrow and fast rising pulses superimposed on the initial half-cycle.